Determination of mercury in aquatic plants, waters and sediments of the southern marshes of Iraq (Ai-Amarah and al-Basrah)‎ and Shatt al-Arab river by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract EN

A cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the determination of mercury levels in different sites of Al-Amarah , Al-Basrah marshes and Shatt Al-Arab river.

Thirteen species of aquatic plants, water and sediments samples were analyzed.

The obtained results showed that the highest levels of mercury were found in aquatic plants of all tested species.

A considerably lower concentrations of mercury were found in marshes sediments compared with rivers.

A comparison of observed sampling sites provides the adverse effect of industrial contamination on the water ecosystem of Shatt Al-Arab river and incomplete removal of mercury in a sewage station.